Bellanca 17-30A accident near Clearwater, Florida, July 5, 1988
On July 5, 1988 at about 10:05 am local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered N399AC, was destroyed in an accident near Clearwater, Florida (Clearwater Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1988 · about 10:05 am local time
- Place
- Clearwater, Florida · Clearwater Executive
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- N399AC · registry record · serial 73-30549
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE ON TAKEOFF ROLL AND CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF. AFTER LIFTOFF THE ENGINE FAILED AND HE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL AND FUEL DIVIDER BLOCK WERE FOUND TO HAVE WATER, RUST AND SAND IN THEM. THE PILOT HAD BEEN TOLD TO HAVE THE FUEL CONTROL AND INJECTION SYSTEM REBUILT 6 DAYS EARLIER WHEN WATER AND SAND WERE FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS AND WAS FLUSHED OUT BY A MECHANIC. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT STATED THAT IF IT CAUSED HIM ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS HE WOULD HAVE THE WORK DONE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Brennan Assoc., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Clearwater FL at 10:04 am
- Destination: UNK Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from PIE, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.